Therapy for Transgender and Gender Nonconforming People

Embarking on a journey to explore, connect with, and express your authentic self can be an exciting and affirming time in your life. It can also be anxiety-provoking, isolating, and sometimes dangerous to live in our society being transgender or gender diverse. Parents and families are often unsure of how to support their family member which may result in further isolation for the individual.

I am a Transgender and Gender Nonconforming (TGNC) affirming counsellor. This has defined as providing “counselling that is culturally relevant and responsive to TGNC clients and their multiple social identities, addresses TGNC client resilience and coping, advocates to reduce systemic barriers to TGNC mental and physical health, and leverages TGNC client strengths” (Singh & dickey, 2017). As a psychologist, I have supported clients in addressing various issues facing many transgender people including coping with gender dysphoria, managing stressors related to social/medical transitioning, navigating issues that arise in intimate relationships, accessing medical transitioning services, and developing a healthy sense of worth and positive identity.

I have worked with members of the transgender and gender diverse community in various roles (as an ally, educator, volunteer, and psychologist) over the past 20 years. My experience in working with transgender people has been recognized by professional organizations for whom I have had the opportunity to provide workshops to professional colleagues. For instance at the 2013 Canadian Counselling Association Annual Conference in Halifax, NS I facilitated a half-day pre-conference workshop entitled “Developing counselling competencies: Counselling Transgender clients”. I currently volunteer with Skipping Stone Foundation to offer relevant services to their Transgender and Gender Diverse Clients. My masters thesis focused on the experiences of people who express non-binary gender identities.

I have completed the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) certified training program and have attended conferences and training organized by Canadian Professional Association for Transgender Health (CPATH), US Professional Association for Transgender Health (USPATH) and the Institute for Sexual Minority Health.

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